1
as in darkened
being without light or without much light
I didn't like walking around the murky campground without a flashlight
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2
as in dark
causing or marked by an atmosphere lacking in cheer
the murky shadows of the cemetery
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3
as in hazy
filled with or dimmed by fine particles (as of dust or water) in suspension
skies made murky from the smoke of forest fires that were many miles to the west
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4
as in ambiguous
having an often intentionally veiled or uncertain meaning
a murky reply to a question about his intentions
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5
as in vague
not seen or understood clearly
a gubernatorial candidate with a murky position on the hot-button issue of capital punishment
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of murky
The team’s best defenseman — and undisputed best all-around skater now that Artemi Panarin is in Los Angeles — isn’t going anywhere this week, but his future beyond that is suddenly murkier than anyone could have imagined a short time ago.
—
Vincent Z. Mercogliano, New York Times, 2 Mar. 2026
The move made sense from a branding perspective — but the business justification was murky.
—Bloomberg, Daily News, 26 Feb. 2026
Past research in humans on how neurogenesis occurs has been murky, partly due to the type of measurement tools used, Lazarov said.
—Sandee Lamotte, CNN Money, 25 Feb. 2026
More and more hard-to-trace checks are laundered among political committees, with their murky-sounding names and Tallahassee addresses, frustrating attempts by voters or the media to figure out exactly who’s giving to whom.
—Steve Bousquet, Sun Sentinel, 21 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for murky
Vincent Z. Mercogliano, New York Times, 2 Mar. 2026
The move made sense from a branding perspective — but the business justification was murky.
—Bloomberg, Daily News, 26 Feb. 2026
Past research in humans on how neurogenesis occurs has been murky, partly due to the type of measurement tools used, Lazarov said.
—Sandee Lamotte, CNN Money, 25 Feb. 2026
More and more hard-to-trace checks are laundered among political committees, with their murky-sounding names and Tallahassee addresses, frustrating attempts by voters or the media to figure out exactly who’s giving to whom.
—Steve Bousquet, Sun Sentinel, 21 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for murky
Recent Examples of Synonyms for murky
Adjective
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As scientists often find darkened teeth in ancient burials, other factors can contribute to a black appearance, notably the chewing of betel leaves.—
Maria Mocerino,
Interesting Engineering,
14 Feb. 2026
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Japanese astronaut Kimiya Yui posted a video to X over the weekend, showing a dazzling view of auroras spreading like a tall blanket over the darkened Earth below.—
Josh Dinner,
Space.com,
15 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Police released an image captured from a surveillance video showing a person wearing dark clothes and a backpack, with their face covered.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
10 Mar. 2026
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But the late-Baroque facade of the building conceals a special, darker history, one that reflects persistent political and legal problems for the bank thousands of miles away, in the US.—
Hugo Miller,
Bloomberg,
10 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The crash was caused by pilot spatial disorientation in hazy, dark conditions.—
Hanna Wickes,
Kansas City Star,
4 Mar. 2026
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But the contemporary relevance of the SBA is hazy, which complicates the legal landscape for live sports viewing.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
4 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Times when a gay man from Texas needn’t rely on ambiguous pronouns and discreet interviews to court a broad audience.—
Brian Howe,
Pitchfork,
6 Mar. 2026
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And as a result, the show — accompanied by some quite instructive poster art — stays true to the book’s lusty approach to ethically ambiguous relationships in academia.—
Elaina Patton,
IndieWire,
6 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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But the notice sent last spring was so vague and confusing that few people used it to object.—
U T Editorial Board,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 Mar. 2026
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At the time, viewers had vague familiarity with these six faces, like Courteney Cox from Family Ties or Lisa Kudrow from Mad About You.—
Angie Martoccio,
Rolling Stone,
7 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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For two teens unable to use their legs, the future was especially bleak.—
Nicole Acevedo,
NBC news,
7 Mar. 2026
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So what’s to be done when things look bleak?—
Ryan Ermey,
CNBC,
6 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Because fans may not have seen much of Karl in S.F. during this sunny week, this misty mixture of Tanqueray Gin. elderflower liqueur, club soda and fresh lemon juice may have to suffice.—
Linda Zavoral,
Mercury News,
7 Feb. 2026
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With an itinerary that can swing from luaus to local restaurants and misty uplands to deep-sea diving, Hawaii demands a packing list as versatile as the islands themselves.—
Natalie Hammond,
Condé Nast Traveler,
30 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Strange rituals conducted by children unfold on the beach; dance parties at the big club devolve into fever dream bacchanals; cryptic, threatening symbols appear near the rental house.—
John Warner,
Chicago Tribune,
7 Mar. 2026
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Boil it down to just one musician and an acoustic guitar to reveal the durability of this cryptic, futuristic sound.—
Sam Sodomsky,
Pitchfork,
6 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Murky.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/murky. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.
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